Read Healthy Place to Die Online
Authors: Peter King
Healthy Place to Die (25 page)
“I have a tentative arrangement to give some talks in Japan next month,” he said. “I don’t really want to go. I don’t suppose you—”
“No,” I said, and I must have said it louder than I intended because the echo rattled a row of glasses on a side table.
“See you back in London,” he said as he left.
Elaine and I eyed one another warily, like two boxers each sizing up the other. It was a different kind of clinch we went into though, and when we came out of it, she gave me a whimsical smile. “What’s the matter?” I asked. “Is this the kind of situation that the existence of your fictitious fiancé was supposed to prevent?”
“He didn’t do a very good job, did he? I may have to get rid of him altogether.”
“I don’t think you even need him,” I told her.
“Maybe I’ll be too busy getting started in a practice.”
We walked out through the reception area together.
“It’s a shame we were not able to do a reprise on our performance in the sauna,” Elaine said softly.
“Events moved too fast for us, I suppose.”
“I suppose.”
I watched her climb into a taxi. I headed back to my chalet to complete packing, as my flight wasn’t for a couple of hours yet. I was stopped by a voice calling me. It was Marta, all bright and sparkling.
“You look ready to step right on to the set and face the camera,” I told her, and it was true.
She smiled at the compliment, then she turned serious. “Did you hear about the terrible disaster?” she asked.
“Yes,” I admitted.
Her beautiful eyes searched my face. “You know something about it, don’t you? I can tell. My mother was a clairvoyant, did I ever mention that?”
“I don’t believe you did, but yes, I do know something. …”
She took my hand and tucked it under her arm. “Let’s go for a walk and you can tell me all about it. You probably don’t want to take a mud bath again, but some of the other baths here are invigorating. Have you tried …”
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
copyright © 2000 by Peter King
cover design by Connie Gabbert
ISBN: 978-1-4532-7727-0 (ePub)
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PETER KING
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